Samaraweera lifts Lanka to 452

Kiwis work hard towards recovery:

Chris DHAMBARAGE reporting from Galle

New Zealand made a promising start in their attempt to save the first Test match by reaching 87 for 2 wickets in their first innings after Sri Lanka had piled up an imposing 452 runs on the second day at the Galle International Stadium yesterday.

The New Zealand openers Martin Guptil and Tim McIntosh survived the initial pace blitz of Nuwan Kulasekera and Thilan Thushara Mirando to put on 45 runs from ten overs. However Guptil having struck five boundaries dragged the ball into his stumps while attempting to pull a short delivery.

Thereafter Sri Lanka managed to claim only one wicket despite maintaining an all spin attack for most of the time.

Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan shared 17 overs between them but the New Zealand batsmen were equal to the task as they were determined to occupy the crease for a long period. The visitors are now trailing by 365 runs and need a further 165 runs to avert the follow on mark. Opener Tim McIntosh was batting on 36 having stroked four boundaries along with the night watchman Jeetan Patel.

Earlier middle order batsman Thilan Samaraweera hit a magnificent 159 to lift Sri Lanka to a formidable 452 runs in their first innings. His performance had a great amount of significance because this was the first time he had reached the three figure mark at this venue.

Even then this was Samaraweera’s tenth hundred overall and his sixth at home which is a clear indication of his talent and potential. His innings may not be as entertaining or flashy like Tillekeratne Dilshan but it was built purely on grit and determination.

The 32 year old solid right hander gave a fine exhibition of batting in a Test match with much ease and confidence as he frustrated the visitors for nearly six hours with his sound technique backed up by sheer elegance following the early dismissal of Mahela Jayawardena.

Samaraweera of course was stuck on 97 for quite some time but his mood completely changed after having reached the century from 223 deliveries inclusive of 15 boundaries. In Jeetan Patel’s next over he lofted over mid-on for four and six, and then cut four more as the scoreboard started to race along.

In fact Samaraweera proved his ability to accelerate when the situation demanded as he needed only 43 balls to move from his hundred to 150 runs. He really tore apart the New Zealand attack during this period with a series of boundaries and also put on 86 for the fifth wicket along with all rounder Angelo Mathews.

Sri Lanka of course lost their last six wickets for the addition of just 66 runs and their last four for a mere eight runs but by that time they had crated a great amount of damage to the New Zealand bowlers with Ian O’Brien and Jeetan Patel both conceding over one hundred runs.

Early morning rain once again washed out the first two hours of play with the match starting at 12 noon.

		SCORECARD
	SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS 
	 (overnight 293-3)


		T. Paranavitana c McCullum b Martin 		 00

		T. Dilshan b O’Brien 				 92

		K. Sangakkara c Flynn b Martin 			 08

		M. Jayawardene c Taylor b O’Brien 		114

		T. Samaraweera c Patel b Vettori 		159

		A. Mathews c McCullum b Vettori 		 39

		P. Jayawardene c Flynn b Vettori 		 07

		N. Kulasekara c McCullum b Martin 		 18

		T. Thushara c O’Brien b Vettori 		 00

		M. Muralitharan c McCullum b Martin 		 08

		A. Mendis not out 				 00
Extras: (b1, lb2, nb2, w2) 			 07
Total (all out, 117.4 overs) 			452

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Paranavitana), 2-16 (Sangakkara), 3-134 (Dilshan), 
		4-300 (M. Jayawardene), 5-386 
Mathews), 6-408 (P. Jayawardene), 7-444 (Samaraweera), 
		8-444 (Kulasekara), 9-452 (Muralitharan), 10-452 (Thushara).

Bowling: Martin 23-5-77-4, O’Brien 21-1-125-2 (nb2, w1), Oram 7-1-25-0,
Vettori 37.4-9-78-4, Patel 24-3-120-0, Ryder 5-1-24-0 (w1).

	NEW ZEALAND 1ST INNINGS


		T. McIntosh not out 		36

		M. Guptill b Thushara 		24

		D. Flynn b Mendis 		14

		J. Patel not out 		06

		Extras: (b4, nb3) 		07
Total (for 2 wkts, 29 overs) 	87

Fall of wickets: 1-45 (Guptill), 2-80 (Flynn).

Bowling: Kulasekara 4-0-21-0, Thushara 8-1-29-1 (nb3), Mendis 11-3-26-1, Muralitharan 6-2-7-0.